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Home-Built Statue of Liberty Replica

In 1986, the Lions Club of McRae got swept up in the fanfare surrounding the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty. They decided to build a Statue of Liberty of their own, and a replica Liberty Bell as well, "as a reminder to citizens what America really means."

The McRae Lions didn't have a lot of cash, nor did they have a lot of statue-building materials. But they did have enthusiasm. Working entirely from photographs -- and junk found lying around town -- they built a 1/12 scale version of Miss Liberty. Her head was carved -- with a chainsaw -- from a stump pulled out of a nearby swamp. Her upraised arm was made of Styrofoam. The hand that holds her torch is actually large, insulated electrician lineman's glove.

Said Ray Bowers of the Club, "We never knew it would be so pretty." The green lady is illuminated by spotlights at night.

The Lions built their replica Liberty Bell with similar efficiency. They took the old McRae town fire bell and put a big crack in it.